FACT: For their taxes, Europeans receive a seemingly endless list of benefits and services for which Americans must pay extra, out-of-pocket, via premiums, deductibles, hidden fees, tuition and other charges, in addition to our taxes.
For example, many Americans who have health care coverage are paying escalating premiums and deductibles, while Europeans receive health care in return for a modest amount deducted from their paycheck. Other Americans are saving a hundred thousand dollars per child for their college education, yet European children attend for free or nearly so.
Millions of Americans are scraping to save the amount they will need for retirement beyond Social Security, but the European retirement system is much more generous. Many Americans pay extra for child care, or self-finance their own sick leave or parental leave after a birth, but Europeans receive all of these and more — in return for paying their taxes.
When you sum up the total balance sheet, it turns out that many Americans pay out as much as or more than Europeans — but we receive a lot less for our money.
– Steven Hill, guest blogger
Ed. comments:
You can see all the posts in this series here.
Steven Hill is the author of “Europe’s Promise: Why the European Way is the Best Hope in an Insecure Age” (www.europespromise.org). He’ll be visiting Seattle and Bellingham next week:
- Monday March 15 at 11 a.m., interview on the Dave Ross Show, KIRO 97.3 FM
- Monday March 15 at 7 p.m., presenting at the University of Washington Communications Building
- Tuesday March 16 at 7:30 pm: presenting at Town Hall Seattle (tickets here)
- Wednesday March 17, 7:00 p.m.: presenting at Village Books, Bellingham
More To Read
March 24, 2023
Women’s Labor is Women’s History
To understand women's history, we must learn the role of women - and especially women of color - in the labor movement
March 24, 2023
Victory! Washington Takes a Critical Step Towards Balancing our Tax Code
Washington state supreme court upholds the capital gains tax
February 15, 2023
Podcast: Getting to Lower Health Care Costs in Washington
EOI's Sam Hatzenbeler joins Washington's Indivisible Podcast to discuss our state's health care costs crisis and what the legislature can do to solve it